Scar after papilloma removal: how to reduce it?

Why do vaginal papillomas occur?

The main cause of papilloma in the vagina is the papilloma virus. It enters the body through unprotected sexual contact with a carrier. However, there are a number of factors that increase the likelihood of infection. These include sexually transmitted diseases (for example, gonorrhea and chlamydia).

Also, the reasons that contribute to the development of papillomas are:

• frequent change of sexual partners;
• disruption of the normal vaginal microflora (dysbiosis);
• low immunity;
• inflammation of the ovaries;
• severe stressful situations;
• pregnancy;
• deviations from the endocrine system;
• lack of vitamins in the body.

If several of the reasons described above are present, the risk of infection increases significantly. The incubation period is no more than 3 months, but under the influence of unfavorable circumstances for the immune system, this time can be reduced to 14-20 days.

Development of the disease

HPV infection can occur through all types of sexual contact (vaginal, oral, rectal), while condoms are not a guarantee of protection, since condylomas can be localized on unprotected areas of the skin and the size of the virus is smaller than the pore size of condoms. In addition, the virus can also be transmitted to the baby during childbirth if the woman is a carrier of the virus.

The human papillomavirus (HPV) has a tropism for the skin and mucous membranes of the genitals, oral cavity, and anus. The amount of virus depends on the state of both the immune system as a whole and local immunity. The more productive the individual factors of the immune system are, the more actively the division of the virus is blocked, and the less of it is contained. That is, a person can be infected with HPV without having any external clinical symptoms.

What do condylomas look like?

The formation of growths in the intimate area is a common reason for girls to make an appointment with a gynecologist. Papillomas on the labia are small white growths. Vaginal papillomas can be of 2 types: exophytic and endophytic. The former are characterized by a papillary surface and a pointed shape; they are localized in the superficial layer. As a rule, they are provoked by HPV with a fairly low level of oncogenic activity. The latter are flat, they usually grow deep into the epithelial tissue and can cause pathologies in healthy tissue.

If such condylomas are not treated in time, the risk of developing cancer increases.

What not to do after papilloma removal

To avoid the appearance of a scar after papilloma removal, it is necessary to temporarily avoid going to the sauna, swimming pool and solarium: exposure to ultraviolet radiation, rough rubbing with a washcloth and sweating can harm the wound healing process.

If the scab has separated, you cannot tear it off artificially; it is better to carefully cut off the detached part and treat it with a disinfectant.

You cannot self-medicate - if you find any new growths inside the wound, you must immediately consult a doctor.

Symptoms of vaginal papilloma

The virus infection scheme is as follows: first, the pathogen enters the dermis layer, affecting the membrane of healthy cells, then the infected DNA is introduced into the cell, after which the virus waits for favorable conditions for activation. In this situation, if the infected girl has a strong immune system, papillomas in the vagina may not form for a long time. In total, there are 3 stages of the disease. The first is characterized by the absence of pronounced symptoms. Depending on the general physical condition and the state of the immune system, this stage can occur over a long period of time, and in the absence of provoking causes, symptoms may not appear for several years. Despite this, the girl is already a carrier of the virus and can infect her sexual partner.

The second stage is characterized by changes in the mucous membrane of the genital organs. Neoplasms can be localized deep in the vagina, so it is not possible to identify them independently. Papillomas at the entrance to the vagina or on the labia can sometimes be detected by touch. Also, due to regular contact with clothing or during washing, they may bleed, which is a serious reason to consult a doctor.

• the appearance of severe pain during sexual intercourse;
• itching and burning in the intimate area;
• the appearance of purulent discharge.

Many girls are interested in what papillomas in the vagina look like. Unfortunately, you won’t be able to detect these growths on your own; to do this, you need to undergo a thorough diagnostic examination.

Operating principle of the RadioSurg 2022 m device

Radiosurgery is an atraumatic and gentle method of “cold cutting” and coagulation of soft tissues using radio waves in the megahertz range. A distinctive feature of the radiosurgical method is the use of a high frequency of 2.2 MHz, which minimizes heating of the tissue in the incision area. As a result, virtually no changes occur at the cellular level and the tissue sample can be used for histological examination right down to its edges.

The small size of the electrodes allows minimizing the impact on healthy tissue, thereby shortening the recovery period. With this type of operation, blood loss is much less compared to any other operation, therefore, after removing moles with the RadioSurg 2022 m device, swelling and other possible postoperative reactions do not form.

Advantages of removal with the RadioSurg 2022 m device:

• Minimal pain during the procedure
• Removal is carried out in a short time
• Wide range of applications (removal of moles from any place on the body)
• Minimal impact on healthy tissue surrounding the mole
• Possibility to perform the removal procedure on an outpatient basis
• The rate of formation of keloid scars is extremely low
• Wounds after radiosurgery heal much faster when compared with other methods of mole removal
• Allows remote lesions to be sent for histological examination
• The absence of swelling and blood makes it possible to go home immediately after the procedure

Diagnostics

If the above symptoms appear, it is recommended to promptly seek help from a gynecologist. To detect papillomas inside the vagina, the doctor will collect anamnesis and send the patient for further diagnostics (laboratory and instrumental). The medical history includes the collection of information about possible unprotected sexual intercourse, the approximate time of formation of growths, and other disturbing symptoms.

Further diagnostics consists of the following activities:

• linked immunosorbent assay. It is used to determine the presence of antibodies to the virus in the patient. This allows you to determine the degree of progression of HPV;
• PCR (polymerase chain reaction) analysis. It allows you to establish not only the presence, but also the quantity and type of pathogen present in the body;
• histological analysis. This diagnostic method is aimed at determining changes in the structure of vaginal tissue;
• colposcopy. Using a special device, the doctor examines the vagina and cervix to determine the affected areas;
• anoscopy. This method involves examining the patient’s anal area for the presence of papillomas;
• oncocytology. The specialist takes scrapings from the cervix and cervical canal and examines them in the laboratory.

Based on the diagnostic examination data, the doctor determines or denies the presence of papillomavirus infection. If a virus is detected, the patient is immediately prescribed treatment. During the growth of condylomas in the vagina, the virus is not contagious. The risk of infection appears when the pathogen reaches the epidermis.

Complication after condylomas

Human condyloma is not just a harmless lobular growth on the genitals, it is a reservoir for the human papillomavirus. In recent years, cases with localization of genital warts in the oral cavity and throat have become more frequent, and there are condylomas on the lips.

The virus, accumulating in tissues, causes a change in the genome of epithelial cells of the skin or mucous membranes, which can lead to the development of severe complications. In men, HPV can lead to penile cancer . HPV in women threatens the development of cervical cancer . With these diseases, HPV is found in almost all patients.

Treatment methods

The papilloma virus is one of the most common infections, so girls often ask doctors: “How to treat papillomas localized in the vagina?” The essence of the treatment is aimed at blocking viral activity and restoring the body's protective functions. Depending on the degree of progression of the papilloma virus, doctors prescribe conservative or surgical treatment. Let's take a closer look at each method separately.

Drug therapy

Most often, medications are used to treat papilloma in the vagina. To do this, doctors prescribe antiviral drugs, for example, Alpisarin tablets, which can cope with rashes in the vaginal area in a short time. To avoid the transition of papilloma to a malignant neoplasm, inducers of interferon production, for example, Neovir, may be required. Along with drugs that have an antiviral effect, the patient requires immunomodulators, for example, Cycloferon. These remedies help the body resist penetrating infections. It is worth noting that these drugs are contraindicated if the girl has autoimmune diseases, when antibodies attack healthy cells of the body.

Doctors often use castor oil to eliminate growths. To do this, apply lotions to the affected area 2-3 times a day. Thanks to the influence of the oil components, the neoplasms dry out and fall off after 5-8 procedures (depending on the complexity of the clinical case). Instead of castor oil, you can use sea buckthorn oil, which is characterized by antibacterial properties. Traditional methods should be used with caution, after consulting your doctor. The formation of papillomas in the vagina can also affect pregnant women. In this case, treatment should be more careful; many antiviral drugs should not be taken during pregnancy.

The most effective is Solcoderm; it can be used in the first trimester.

If the disease manifests itself later than the first trimester, therapy should be postponed.

Removal

To cure a patient of papillomavirus, it is often necessary to remove growths. This is due to the high likelihood of developing cancer when the vagina is affected by papillomas. They cause girls not only physical, but also psychological discomfort. Papillomas on the vaginal walls can be removed by several methods, the most common of which are:

1. Cryodestruction. This is a minimally invasive method of eliminating papillomas; its essence lies in the effect of liquid nitrogen at low temperatures on the damaged area. As a result, the neoplasm dies, and complete healing occurs after 10 days. The method is suitable if there are a small number of condylomas.
2. Laser destruction. This method involves the impact of a laser beam on the papillomas, which leads to their drying out and further death. They resort to it when there is a large lesion with neoplasms.
3. Electrocoagulation. It is used in advanced situations, when there are many condylomas and they are large in size. The procedure involves the influence of electric current on the affected area. After removal of the papillomas, a healing period of about 14 days begins.
4. Radio wave surgery. This procedure is in demand because it has a high cosmetic effect. Elimination of growths in the vagina occurs without pain and in one visit to the doctor.

Prices

• Prices for removal of warts and papillomas

Prevention

To avoid HPV infection and the formation of papillomas in the vagina, women should adhere to preventive measures and recommendations.

• maintaining intimate hygiene;
• maintaining a healthy lifestyle;
• no abuse of tobacco and alcohol products;
• regular examinations by a gynecologist;
• use of barrier methods of contraception during sexual intercourse;
• increasing immunity (regular consumption of vitamin complexes, minerals and trace elements);
• maintaining a proper balanced diet.

Laser removal of papillomas: features of the method

There are several ways to remove papillomas:

• Surgical removal
• Cryotherapy – exposure to low-temperature nitrogen
• Electrocoagulation
• Use of chemical reagents.

All these methods are of course practiced in modern medicine, but these procedures are painful and require a long period of rehabilitation.

Today, modern medicine offers an effective and painful method for removing papillomas and other formations using laser surgery. Laser removal is the most optimal method, which is used by doctors around the world, allowing you to get rid of problems in a short time without the risk of relapse.

Indications for the procedure

The indication for the procedure is the very presence of tumors.

Due to their location, papillomas can be irritated by friction, wearing jewelry, or clothing. They can become painful if they are injured, twisted, torn, or become thrombotic. As a result of rubbing the papilloma, pain, hyperemia, and irritation appear.

Papilloma is a benign tumor, but its danger lies in the fact that it can degenerate into a malignant one. This can happen, for example, with frequent trauma to the papilloma. Therefore, to eliminate this possibility, it is better to remove the papilloma, even if from a cosmetic point of view it does not bother you.

Removal of papillomas with a laser is carried out if the tumor appears on the face, neck, and looks unaesthetic.